Knife attack in Hamburg | Knife attack in Hamburg: Suspected perpetrator in psychiatric hospital

Following the knife attack at Hamburg Central Station that left 18 people injured, a judge has ordered the suspects to be placed in a psychiatric hospital. The 39-year-old woman was arrested on Friday evening after allegedly stabbing people randomly on the platform. The order for her detention is for 15 counts of attempted manslaughter in conjunction with dangerous bodily harm, police said.

"The detention order applies to those who were directly injured with the knife and who suffered cuts or stab wounds of varying severity," the police explained in their statement. A total of 18 people were taken to hospitals. The others suffered injuries, "for example, from a fall or shock."

Three women, aged 24, 52, and 85, and a 24-year-old man were critically injured. They are all now in a stabilized condition, police announced at midday. In addition, seven people were seriously injured and another seven were slightly injured. Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschentscher reported that some were able to leave the hospital.

According to previous police statements, the suspect was not politically motivated. "Rather, there is now very concrete evidence of a mental illness in the suspect," the police stated. The public prosecutor's office had requested her detention. According to police, "according to current information," the suspect has no fixed address. A spokesperson for the Lower Saxony Ministry of the Interior confirmed in response to an inquiry that she was originally from Lower Saxony.

Brave helpers intervene

At the time of the attack, around 6 p.m., the platform in question was packed. The fact that the attack didn't affect more people was thanks to the courageous intervention of two passersby. "Thanks to the very quick intervention of two passersby who were on the platform (...) the attack was stopped," police said.

The 39-year-old subsequently allowed herself to be arrested without resistance. According to current information, she acted alone. The knife used in the crime has been confiscated.

Knives have been banned in the area of ​​the main train station since October 1, 2023. According to the Federal Police, the transport hub was one of the most dangerous stations in Germany in 2022. Meanwhile, according to official figures, the situation has improved. The number of violent crimes fell by almost a quarter to 546 last year, as the federal government announced in February in response to a query from the AfD parliamentary group. However, the number of violent crimes involving knives nearly doubled, from twelve to 23. dpa/nd